Tennessee State football falls to 0-4 after losing to Lane College in overtime
The Tennessee State football team lost its fourth straight game Saturday, but this one was different than the previous three.
The first two losses came against FCS nationally-ranked Eastern Washington and Jackson State. The third came at FBS Middle Tennessee State.
This loss came against Lane College, a Division II program from Jackson, Tennessee, which held on for a stunning 28-27 overtime win in the John Merritt Classic at Hale Stadium.
A crowd of 11,553 saw the Tigers (0-4) extend their losing streak to seven games dating back to Nov. 6 of the 2021 season. It matches the Tigers' longest losing streak since the 1995 team lost its last six and the 1996 team lost its first game.
TSU, playing its first home game without four key offensive starters, had to rally late to send the game into overtime. Kaleb Mosley kicked a career-long 51-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 20.
TSU then went up 27-20 on a 2-yard touchdown run by third-team quarterback Edwin Rhodes III in overtime.
Lane (3-2), however, answered with an 11-yard touchdown run by Ike Brown and won it when Brown ran in the 2-point conversation.
Brown had caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from backup quarterback Tarik McKinzie late in the third quarter to give the Dragons a 20-17 lead.
TSU was without starting quarterback Draylen Ellis, who suffered a high ankle sprain against MTSU, along with leading rusher Devon Starling, leading receiver Zack Dobson and starting receiver Cam Wyche, who were also injured. Starting free safety Gleson Sprewell was also out with an injury.
Coach Eddie George had said publicly Ellis was a game time decision, but did not mention the injuries or playing statuses for Starling, Dobson, Wyche or Sprewell.
Without Ellis, Dobson and Wyche, the Tigers' passing attack was almost non-existent in the first half and didn't get much better in the second. TSU completed just 10 passes for 118 yards.
Chayhil Garnett replaced Ellis at quarterback and committed two turnovers, which resulted in Lane touchdowns in the first half.
The Auburn transfer fumbled on his first carry in the first quarter and Lane cornerback Jeffrey Johnson scooped it up and ran 21 yards for a score.
With 28 seconds left in the first half, Lane safety Nijul Canada intercepted Garnett and ran 57 yards for a touchdown, which put the Dragons up 13-10 at intermission.
Garnett completed 3 of 9 passes for 39 yards. Rhodes replaced Garnett in the second half and completed 6 of 10 for 68 yards.
Jalen Rouse, who replaced Starling, rushed for 109 yards on 25 carries. He scored a 4-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave TSU a 17-13 lead. The Tigers had 226 total rushing yards.
McKinzie completed 15 of 26 passes for 173 yards, and Brown rushed for 74 yards on 16 carries.
It was George's first time to coach a game at Hale Stadium and the only game scheduled there this season.
TSU will try to bounce back next Saturday in its homecoming game against Bethune-Cookeman (1-3) at Nissan Stadium. Bethune Cookeman lost Saturday to Alabama A&M, 35-27.
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State football Eddie George falls to Lane College in OT
